19 October 2015 – National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao, together with Commissioner Edilwasif T. Baddiri and Atty. Naima M. Sanggacala (Chief of the Legal Affairs Division of NCMF Region XII-B Lanao), successfully conducted a scoping mission to Qatar from October 07 to 12 to explore opportunities with the country for the benefit of Muslim Filipinos.

Accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Wilfredo C. Santos, Deputy Head of Mission Gonaranao B. Musor, and Attaché for Political and Economic Sorhaya P. Dilabakun, the NCMF met with officials of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Qatar University, and Qatar Foundation. Among the initial areas of cooperation that were discussed were in the field of academic exchanges, research specifically on IT and material sciences, capacity-building, especially on Islamic finance.

The mission also gave the opportunity for Secretary Lao to meet with Filipino journalists and the Filipino Muslim community in Doha, where she was able to update them on the ongoing peace process in Mindanao and the status of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, as well as address some of the concerns of the Filipino Muslim community.

“I am very pleased with my first official trip to Qatar and I look forward to coming back soon as there are many other potential areas of cooperation with the country, including in the areas of halal and Shariah training, that we barely touched on,” Secretary Lao said before departing Doha. END